Protecting-band for pneumatic tires.



No. 722,339. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. J. WHEELDON.

PROTECTING BAND FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 22. 1902.

H0 MODEL.

llNiTen STATES PATENT QTTTCE,

JOHN \VHEELDON, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

PROTECTING-BAND FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 722,339, dated March 10, 1903.

' Application filed May 22,1902. Serial No. 108,528. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN WHEELDON, a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 16 Edge Hill road, Sheffield, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Protecting- Bands for Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved means for protecting the air-tubes of all kinds of pneumatic tires for the Wheels of cycles, motor-cars, and other vehicles from damage by puncture or cuts, and refers more particularly to the construction of a metallic shield of great flexibility to be interposed between the air-tube and the outer part or tread of the tire, either as a removable shield or by being fixed to either the inside of the outer cover or tread or to the outside of the air-tube. Hitherto all metallic devices proposed to be used for this purpose have been found unsatisfactory, either on account of their non-resiliency, rigidity, difficulty of retaining them in position, or the like.

My invention consists in constructing a shield of numerous small sections of thin sheet metal, preferably sheet-steel, arranged side by side, end to end, and edge to edge without overlapping upon a strip of canvas or other suitable fabric of sufficient length and width for the purpose and prepared upon its upper surface, being that upon which the metal sections arelaid, with a coating of strong cement, rubber solution, or other adhesive preparation, and which is afterward covered with another corresponding strip of fabric similarly coated upon its inner face with an adhesive preparation. These two strips, with the metal sections between them, are caused to adhere one to the other, either by the application of heat or by pressure, or both, and forms a light but strong armored guard or shield, which may be made of any suitable length or be formed as an endless or annular band or belt. The longitudinal edges of the fabric preferably extend on each side beyond the width of the metallic sections and by their close adhesion prevent any lateral displacement of the sections and give a tapering form to each edge and also form a convenient means by which the guard may be secured in the desired position over the air-tube. The sections of steel or other metal may be varied in size, strength, and shape as they are required for use in cycles, motor-cars, or other vehicles; but for cycle-tires rectangular pieces of about half an inch long, five-sixteenths of an inch wide, and about No. 38 wire gage thick give a good result, and such sections I prefer for that purpose; but for heavier work the sections may be larger, thicker, and of different proportions. If desired, the sections may be made to interlock or reticulate.

I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of a portion of my guard with the upper covering of fabric removed to show the metal sections. Fig. 2 shows a transverse section or end view of the same with the upper covering in place, the metal sections being between the two pieces of canvas or other suitable material. Fig. 3 shows one of many forms in which the sections may be made to interlock.

(1 represents plain metal sections.

1) is a lower strip of fabric, which may be canvas or other analogous material, and c is an upper strip of fabric, which may be canvas or other analogous material.

The metal sections a are laid upon the lower strip of fabric with a coating of cement in close order, side by side, end to end, and with their edges abutting against each other, so as to avoid any overlapping of the metal sections, and are then covered with the upper strip of fabric, which has been previously coated with cement. As before stated, the longitudinal edges of the strips of fabric extend beyond the sides of the layer of metal sections, so as to provide means for facilitating the securing of the band in position between the air-tube and the tread of a tire.

As a modification of my invention the metal plates may be attached to the inside of the outer cover or tread and covered with one or more thicknesses of canvas or other suitable flexible fabric, or they may be attached to the outside of the air-tube next to the tread of the tire; but neither of these forms is as satisfactory in use as the removable shield first described herein.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An intermediate protecting-band adapted to be inserted between the air-tube and tread of a pneumatic tire consisting of inner and outer strips of fabric, and a layer of small plain sections of sheet metal fitted closely together side to side, end to end, and edge to edge between the strips of fabric, and cemented together with the strips of fabric.

2. An intermediate protecting-band adapted to be inserted between the air-tube and tread of a pneumatic tire consisting of inner and outer strips of fabric, and a layer of small plain sections of sheet metal fitted closely together side by side, end to end, and edge to edge between the strips of fabric, and cemented together with the strips of fabric;

the longitudinal edges of the fabric extending on each side beyond the width of the layer of metal sections whereby the displacement of the layer is prevented and means are provided for facilitating the securing of the band in position.

3. A pneumatic tire comprising an air-tube, a tread, and a layer of small plain sections of sheet metal fitted closely together side by side, end to end, and edge to edge, and fabric cemented together between the air-tube and tread.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN WHEELDON. Witnesses:

H. FAIRBROTHER, WM. STONE. 

